Apparatus for handling anode buttons for glass cathode ray tubes



April 29, 1958 w. A STUTSKE ET AL 2,832,505

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ANODE BUTTONS FOR GLASS CATHODE RAY TUBES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

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llllllllllll W. A. STUTSKE ET AL 2,832,505 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ANODE BUTTONS FOR GLASS CATHODE RAY TUBES Filed Dec. 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ril 29, was

United States Patent O" APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ANODE BUTTONS FOR GLASS CATHODE RAY TUBES Application December 18, 1953, Serial No. 399,053

3 Claims. (Cl. 221--81) This invention relates to the manufacture of cathode ray tubes and particularly to an apparatus for the insertion of metallic anode buttons in glass cathode ray tubes.

In the manufacture of cathode ray tubes a metallic anode button is inserted in an opening in the wall of the tube and sealed thereto.

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for automatically placing an anode button into an opening in a glass cathode ray tube.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an apparatus whereby the anode buttons are automatically and successively placed into openings in the walls of successive cathode ray tubes brought to a button inserting station.

' Otherobjects of the invention will appear hereinafter. Basically the invention comprises a vacuum head mounted for reciprocating movement and a button carrier disc'mo'unted for movement 'into and out of position beneath the vacuum head. The disc is moved below the vacuum head and the vacuum head is. reciprocated in order to pick up a button from the disc. The disc is then moved out of position permitting the vacuum head to againreciprocate and place the button into the opening in the wall of a glass tube positioned beneath the vacuum head.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the'apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentarysectionalview at the line 11-11 on Fig. 1;

r Fig. .3" isa fragmentary sectional .view at the line III-III on Fig. 1 showing the button carrier under the vacuum head;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatus on an enlarged scale, parts of the apparatus being broken away;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view at the line V--V on Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 5 showing the glass below the vacuum head.

Referring to Fig. 1, the apparatus basically comprises avacuum head assembly 10 and a button carrier assembly 11 mounted for movement into and out of position beneath the vacuum head assembly. As the button carrier assembly moves below the vacuum head assembly a button is removed therefrom, the button carrier assembly is moved away, and the vacuum head assembly deposits the button on the glass part positioned below the vacuum head assembly.

As shown in Fig. 3, the vacuum head assembly 10 comprises a vacuum head 12 mounted on a rod 13 which in turn is slidingly mounted in a sleeve 14 fixed to a tubular body 15. The rod is maintained in downward position by a spring 16. The tubular body 15 is mounted for reciprocating movement in a plunger body 17. The reciprocating action is provided by a cylinder 18 through a cross-arm 19 connecting the cylinder and the tubular body 15. Actuation of the cylinder causes the 2,832,505 Patented Apr. 29, 1958 tubular body 15, and in turn the rod 13 and vacuum head 12, to reciprocate. Vacuum may be applied to the vacuum head through channel 12*. i

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the button carrier assem- -bly 11 comprises a carrier disc 20 having a multiplicity of sockets or openings 20 along the periphery thereof for carrying the metallic anode buttons b. The disc 20 is mounted on a shaft zlwhich in, turn is mounted for; free rotation in a supporting bracket 22. The supporting bracket has a short arm 23 and a long arm 24 integral therewith. The long arm 24 is pivoted to a fixed point 25. A cylinder 26 is pivotally connected to the short arm 23 while the other end of the cylinder is pivotally mounted to a fixed bracket 27. Actuation of the cyl' inder causes the bracket 22 to move in an are about the pivot point of the long arm 24 bringing the pee riphery of the carrier disc 20 into position below the vacuum head 12.

Means is provided for indexing the carrier disc in order to bring a button into position with each movement of the carrier disc below the vacuum head. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 this mechanism comprises an index gear 28 and an indexing bar 29 fastened to the shaft 2].. The indexing bar 29 is pivoted to one end of a link 30, the other end of which .is pivoted to a fixed point; 31. An indexing pawl 32 is pivotally mounted on the; bar 29 and mainstained against the gear teeth of the index gear 28 by a spring 33. Means is provided .for maintaining the carrier disc in accurate position and in-S cludes a'detent pin 34 mounted on a detent lever 35 v pivoted to the long arm 24. A spring 36 holds the pin. 34 in position against the teeth of the index gear ZSJ The operation of the apparatus may be summarized as follows:

At the beginning of the cyclethe vacuum head 12. is in raised position and the cylinder 26 is actuated to cause movement of the long arm 24 about the fixed point 25, thereby carrying the periphery of the carrier" disc 20 into position to bring a button below the vacuum head. The cylinder 18 is then actuated, bringing the vacuum head into contact with a button, vacuum is ap. plied to vacuum head through tube 12*, andthe cylinder. 18 is again actuated to raise the vacuum headwith thef button (Fig. 5.). The downward movement .of the 'cyl-I inder is limitedby a stop 37 mounted on t the. .arm 24.i The cross-arm 19 contacts this stop and prevents the full downward movement of the vacuum head, thereby compensating for the difference in height between the position of the disc and glass wall beneath the vacuum head.

During movement of the carrier disc below the vacuum head the indexing pawl 32 is retracted by means of the indexing bar 29 and link 30. After the button has been removed from the carrier disc 20, the cylinder 26 is again actuated to return the carrier disc to its original position. During this movement the indexing pawl 32 is advanced, by the bar 29 and link 30, pushing against a tooth of the index gear 28, rotating the index gear sufficiently to permit the detent pin 34 to engage the next tooth in the index gear 28, thereby bringing another button into position such that it will be below the vacuum head when the carrier disc is again moved below the vacuum head.

After the carrier disc has returned to its original position the vacuum head is again lowered by actuation of the cylinder 18 to place the button in the opening in the the instance where the glass is hot, without causing a great distortion in the wall of the glass. The stroke of the vacuum head may be adjusted so that the movement of the vacuum head is stopped above the glass and the button drops onto the glass when'the vacuum is .released.

Fromthe above description it is apparent that an apparatus has been provided for successively presenting buttons to a'button inserting position and depositing said buttons into the walls of glass articles successively brought into position.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for successively placing metallic anode buttons into openings in walls of cathode ray tubes successively brought to a button insertion station, said apparatus comprising a vacuum head, means for successively bringing anode buttons to a position belowsaid vacuum head, means for moving said latter'means into and out of position below the vacuum head, means for reciprocating said vacuum head to pick up an anode button and place said button in an opening in the wall of a cathode ray tube positioned below said vacuum head, said means for reciprocating the vacuum head comprising a rod connected to said vacuum head, a tubular body in which said'rod is slidably mounted, a spring maintaining said rod and vacuum head in downward position relative to said tubular body, a plunger body in which the tubular body is mounted for reciprocating movement, and a cylinder connected to said tubular body for reciprocating said tubular body.

2. An apparatus for successively placing metallic anode buttons into openings in the walls of cathode ray tubes successively brought to a button insertion station, said apparatus comprising means for holding an anode button, a circular carrier disc having a multiplicity of openings in the periphery thereof for holding anode buttons, a shaft upon which said carrier disc is mounted, a bracket in which the shaft is mounted for free rotation, means for moving said bracket in an arcuate path in order to bring the periphery of the carrier disc to a position below the holding means, said means for moving the bracket in an tarcuate 'pat'h comprising an arm connected to said bracket and pivota'lly'fastened to a fixed point, a second arm connected to said bracket, a cylinder pivotally'connected to said second arm whereby actuation ofthe cylinder will move'the bracket causing it to pivot about the fixed point, means :for reciprocating the holding means to remove an anode button from the carrier disc and place said button in an opening in the wall of a cathode ray tube positioned :below said holding means, and means actuated by the movement of said bracket to cause the rotation of said carrier disc about its axis thereby indexing the carrier disc.

3. An apparatus for successively placing metallic anode buttons into openings in the walls of cathode ray tubes successively brought to a button insertion station, said apparatus comprising means'for holding an anode button, a circular carrier disc having a multiplicity of openings in the periphery thereof for holding anode buttons, a shaft upon which said carrier disc is'rnounted, a bracket in which the shaft is mounted for free rotation, means for moving said bracket in an arcuate path in .order to bring the periphery of the carrier disc to a position below the holding means, means for reciprocating the holding means to remove an anode button from the carrier disc and place said button in an opening in the wall of a cathode raytube-positioned below said holding means, means actuated by the movementof'said'bracket to cause the rotation of-said carrier disc about its axis thereby indexing the carrier disc, said means for indexing the carrier plate comprising an indexing gear mounted for rotation with the carrier disc, anindexing arm mounted for movement with said carrier disc, means for linking said arm to a fixed point, a pawl pivotally mounted on said arm, a spring for maintaining said pawl in contact with said indexing gear, a detent pin pivotally mounted to the first arm of the carrier disc support bracket, and .a spring connected to said pin for maintaining said .pin

in contact with the indexing gear, whereby the pawlis retracted when the carrier plate is moved to bring the periphery thereof below thelholding means and the'pawl is advanced upon the return movement of the carrier disc moving the index gear and the carrier disc .and.

causing the detent pin to'engage the adjacent tooth in the indexing :gear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,081,580 Diffenderfer May 25, 1937 2,251,158 Ogrodowy July 29, 1941 2,294,274 Buxbaum Aug. 25,1942 2,380,306 Hallowell 1 .July .10, 1945 2,683,538 Kingston Iuly'13, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 543,463 GreatBritain Feb. 26, 1942 

